Germany: Transformation of the Berlin Union-Film Studios – Redesign of “TON 1” Studio Completed

The studio buildings of film studio operator Berliner Union-Film, which have existed for almost a hundred years and are located on the southern edge of the decommissioned Berlin-Tempelhof airport, are currently undergoing an extensive modernisation. For the London-based real estate investor and developer Fabrix, the Dutch architectural firm of MVRDV is in charge of realising the large-scale “Atelier Gardens” project in cooperation with other companies. Within the framework of this project, the existing buildings are to be preserved using sustainable materials and adapted in a modern way in order to set up the film studio campus, which covers a total of 23,800 square metres, for the future. Soon, the buildings will no longer be available exclusively for the film industry, but can also be used for other purposes.

© © MVRDV As part of the extensive modernisation work, the complex transformation of the listed studio called “TON 1” was recently completed. In order to preserve the historic structure of the building, a complicated curtain system was used whose guide rail and tracks were not concealed (as in a theatre, for example) but are mounted clearly visible under the ceiling and support several different coloured curtains that function as room dividers. Depending on the intended use, rooms can be created multifunctionally and individually, e.g. for workshops, meetings, presentations and other events. The 200-metre long curtain system, equipped with LED lighting, was designed, manufactured and installed by creative engineering services provider MKTengineering, also using material from stage equipment provider Gerriets. (eap)